Multiple shelved receptacle



Oct. 2, 1956 D. P. BACKUS MULTIPLE SHELVED RECEPTACLE Filed April 29, 1954 D wio'lziz P Backus ATTORNEY 2,765,209 Patented Oct. 2, 1956 MULTIPLE SHELVED RECEPTACLE Dwight P. Backus, Rainelle, W. Va.

Application April 29, 1954, Serial No. 426,469

4 Claims. (Cl. 312-350) 'This invention relates to multiple shelved receptacles,

:and particularly relates to receptacles having both closed .and open shelves.

One object of this invention is to provide a desk receptacle having separate compartments for different types of papers to permit the easy arrangement of various types of papers in specified compartments.

Another object of this invention is to provide a desk receptacle which is capable of holding the papers within easy access and while occupying a relatively small area of desk space.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an improved receptacle of the character described that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in View, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a receptacle embodying the invention with the cover therefor shown in outline.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective View of the receptacle of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical view partly in elevation and partly in section of an embodiment of the invention, showing the details of the means for fastening the receptacle to a desk top and showing the cover in place.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a second embodiment wherein the receptacle is provided with feet for seating the receptacle on a desk top.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the locking means for one of the drawers.

Fig. 7 is a side View of the device with the cover in place, shown partly in elevation and partly in section.

Fig. 8 is a front perspective view of the cover.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a receptacle, generally designated 10, comprising a lower housing 12, an upper housing 14 and four shelves 16, 18, 20 and 22 between the two housings, the shelves 16 and 20 opening at the side in one direction and the shelves 13 and 22 opening at the side in the opposite direction. These shelves 18 to 22, as well as the two housings 12 and 14, are formed from a single strip of material. The material preferably used and which is illustrated, is strong, spring metal. However, plastic, cardboard or any other suitable material may also be used.

In making the device, the lower housing 12 is first formed by bending the sheet into a cross-sectionally rectangular shape, the sheet portion forming the top wall of the housing being welded or otherwise suitably secured to an inwardly projecting flange at the top of the adjacent side wall of the housing at 24; the remaining portion of the sheet is then bent back and forth in the general manner of corrugations, with the bends being curved as at 26, 28, 30 and 32; finally, the remainder of the sheet is bent into the cross-sectionally rectangular housing 14, with the last formed side Wall of this housing having an inwardly projecting flange to which is welded or otherwise suitably secured, as at 34, the part of the sheet forming the lower wall of this upper housing.

A back wall 36 is provided in the form of a sheet 38 having top and bottom flanges 40 and 42, and a plurality of side flanges 44, 46, 48 and 50, 52, 54. In assembling the device the back plate 36 is brought against the rear end of the compartmentally formed sheet and the respective flanges are lapped over, the top wall of the upper housing, the lower flange being lapped under the bottom wall of the lower housing, and each of the side flanges being lapped over each curve or bend in the sheet, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. These flanges are then welded in place against their respective walls or curved bends.

The housings l2 and 14 are each adapted to slidably receive a drawer, one such drawer being indicated at 56 and the other at 58. Each of these drawers is adapted to be locked in closed position within its respective housing by means of a locking mechanism, best shown in Fig. 6. This locking mechanism comprises a standard type housing 60 having the ordinary tumblerequipped key opening and having a latch bar 62 adapted to engage within an opening formed in a bridge member 64 connected to the inner surface of the top wall of the housing. Any type of rigid or hinged pull device which serves the purpose may be attached to the front wall of each drawer, or may be countersunk therewithin.

A cover 66 for the receptacle is best shown in Figs.7 and 8, although indicated in outline in Fig. 1. This cover or hood comprises a curved sheet forming the top and side walls with front and rear plates welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto to form the front and rear walis. The bottom of the cover is open to permit the cover to be slipped down over the receptacle. A carrying handle 68 is provided on the top of the cover while a pair of clamps 7t and 72 are hinged to the front and rear portions respectively of the cover, these clamps being adapted to pivot under the cover and embrace the underside of the housing 12 to connect the cover to the receptacle. A pull tab 74 is provided on clamp 70 while a similar pull tab 76 is provided on clamp 72.

In one embodiment of the invention, the receptacle is adapted to be fastened to,a desk top or the like, indicated generally at 78 in Fig. 4, by means of bolts 80 inserted through appropriate openings in the bottom wall of the housing 12 and in the desk top. A resilient sleeve 82, of rubber or the like, surrounds the bolt and spaces the receptacle from the desk top. The bolts are fastened in place by nuts 34 beneath the desk top.

In another embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 5, feet 86 are substituted for the bolt, nut and sleeve connecting means shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the feet 86, each comprising a resilient body 88 connected to the bottom wall of the lower housing of the receptacle by a bolt 9% and nut 92, form supports for the receptacle. In both embodiments, the desk top is prevented from being scratched by the resilient sleeve 82 or feet 88.

In using the device embodying this invention, papers may be inserted into the shelves either from the front or from the left or right side, depending on the position of the shelf. Papers for immediate use may be placed on top of the receptacle, while special or confidential papers may be placed in the drawers and locked up, if desired. If it is necessary to move the receptacle with all the papers therein, the cover can be placed over the receptacle and latched thereto by the clamps 70 and 72, and the whole assembly can then be easily and conveniently transported without the risk of losing any of the papers. Likewise, the cover may be placed .0 1 the receptacle while it is on the desk, thereby preventing the blowing away of any papers during the night or while the office is unoccupied.

This device can not only be used on desks or the like tohold correspondence, bills, invoices, blueprints and other papers, but may also be used on workbenches, in factories and shops, to hold small tools and implements or supplies. The cover may also be used as a receptacle for waste paper or the like.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope or" the invention is to be determined as claimed.

While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A multiple receptacle comprising a plurality of vertically arranged compartments integrally formed from a piece of sheet material, each of said compartments having a front opening, a horizontal floor, and a rear closure wall, the upper and lower compartments being completely enclosed except for said front opening while each of the intermediate compartments is provided with a side opening on one side and a closure Wall on the other side, and a drawer slidably positioned in each of said upper and lower compartments.

2. The receptacle of claim 1 wherein the side opening of each intermediate compartment is provided on the opposite side from the side opening of the next adjacent intermediate compartment.

3. A multiple receptacle comprising a piece of sheet material bent around to form a rectangular housing, then corrugated to form a plurality of intermediate pockets, and finally, bent around to form a second rectangular housing, and a separate back plate connected at one side of said receptacle closing one end of each of said housings and pockets, the intermediate pockets being open at alternate sides.

4. in a multiple receptacle, a piece of sheet material corrugated back and forth providing a plurality of open- .ended horizontal shelves, each successive shelf being also open on the side opposite from the next successive shelf, and a separate back plate connected at the back side of said receptacle closing the back end of each of said shelves and providing vertical support for said shelves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,649,061 Ensrud Nov. 15, 1927 1,861,310 Liebendorfer May 31, 1932 2,503,413 Ressinger Apr. 11, 1950 2,631,912 Pryor Mar. 17, 1953 

